Method and apparatus for making dipped rubber articles



A. N. SPANEL El!" AL 0er. 3L 1933.,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FORMAKING DIPPED RUBBER ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed N0v. 29, 1952 @at EL E933 A, N SANEL, Er AL v 1,9339397 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING DIPPED RUBBER ARTICLES Filed Nov. 29, 1.932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ENroRs i ,/Z ABRAHAM N. PANEL i Roms/i QWEsToN M/ALTfR Brr/VER ATTORNEYS? @oriented 319 1933 l res;

MErnon APPARATUS non A -f nieren RUBBER ARTICLE Abraham N. Spaniel, Roger D. Weston, and

Walter Bitner, International Latex Rochester, N. Y., assignors to ilorporation, Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of New York .fippiication llovernlier 29, 11932, Sera! No. 644,172

i3 Claima This invention relates to procedure and appa- 'azeus fon/making ldipped rubber goods of liquid @ne purpose of the invention is to provide an 5 improved procedure for obtaining comparatively thiol. but uniform rubber articles of dipped rubber from liquidlatex with a minimum number of dippingsby simple dipping and drying operations.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide such articles with a beaded or reinforced edge without a separate bead-rolling operation.

The foregoing and other purposes of the invention are attained by the method and apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings and ldescribed below. it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereo shown and described.

Oi the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a dipping tank with a rack carrying forms dipped therein in accordance with the invention; l

Figure 2 an enlarged section on line 2 2 of Figure l after the dipping operation;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the form being removed from the rack, which operation causes the rubber article to partiroin the rubber covering the bottom o the form and the rack leav ing a reinforced edge on the article;

Figure e is a view similar tobigure 2 on line 4 4: of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 or the form of Figure 4 being separated irom'the rack.

in the manufacture of dipped articles of liquid latex without the use of a coagulant, applicant has discovered that by comparatively slow withdrawal ci the forms from the dip-tank, a relatively thin coating of rubber is deposited on the form, this being due to the fact that the rubber in the lrn of latex is given time to drain into the lletof which llet draws into the latex bodyl all the rubber in excess of that adhering directly to and setting on the form, there being no considerable now a5 or later. over the forrn as it is withdrawn... Tire tbin layer of latex thus produced maybe quickly dried.

To produce comparatively thick rubber articles by depositing successive thin layers of latex on 5@ a form in this manner, however, is prohibitive in expense and moreover with articles of quite irregular shape such as rubber gloves, bathing caps;7 ete.,'.an article of uniform thickness does not result. it hasbeen iound thatcomparatively thiol?.

an improved procedure and apparatus for making latex about the form at the level o the'latex,

(ci. ira-2r) rubber articles of substantial uniformity and free from blisters may be produced by applying one or more inner layers of rubber to the forms ,by

a comparatively slow withdrawal process with intermediate dryings and then applying one or do more layers of rubber by a comparatively rapid withdrawal process. Certain articles may be made in accordance with the invention using only the rapid withdrawal process for all dippings, but the abovedescribed slow andi' then fast with- 65 drawal process is preferred.I I

Where the goods are to have beads or rings rolled upon the edgesthereoi the slow and then' rapid withdrawal process appliedrespectively to the inner and outer dippings as described may Zu be used without modification, the beads being rolled on the articles in the usual ways.

Many articles, however, may be formed with a heavy, reinforced edge without bead rolling,

if the forms are provided with abrupt edges 'at 75 the bottoms thereof above which the latex 'may gather 'or collect to provide a heavy or reinforced edge. When this operation is desired, the forms may be withdrawn at a comparatively rapid rate until the laten levelis within a short distance from the bottom, at which time the withdrawal is either stopped entirely-for a time interval andthen proceeds slowly untilz the forms are completely withdrawn, or the forms are so slowed up when their bottoms are tance from the latex level as to give tbe later. owing down the form, as a result of the fast withdrawal, time to dow out onto the body of tbe latex to prevent the accumulation of too much form which would au latex at the bottom of the produce unevenly-reiniorced or beaded edges.v

The eective use oi a toi-m with an abrupt or sharp lower edge to provide a reinforced edge to the article is possible because of the fact that the latex will collect above said edge and will deposit about said edge only as a very thin nlm. capable of being easily severed at said edge.

When the reinforced or beaded edge is to be formed at an abrupt lower edgeofh the dipping form, the form is preferably removably mounted 10o on a support engaged in an aperture or socket in the bottom or the form whereby upon lifting the form-from the support, the tension o the rubber nlm over the support and bottom surface of the orm will cause the depositedlm to part at the abrupt lower edge of the form vleaving on the' form the deposited rubber article with a beaded or reinforced edge which may be subsequently vulcanized on the form and stripped therefrom without further bead-io operallo within a short dis- 85 such as the glove form 13, the bathing cap form 1d, and the cot form 15. These forms are preferably provided with abrupt lower edges `as indicated at 13a, 14B, and 15E.

To carryout the invention in its preferred form, the forms 13, 14 and 15 are removably mounted on suitable supports on the rack 12 engaged in apertures or sockets in the bottom ends of the forms. For example, form 13 may have a wedge-shaped socket 13b therein to receive a wedge-shaped, upwardly-projecting piece 12a on rack l2; form,Y 14 may have a wedge-shaped socket 141 in the bottom end thereof to receive upwardly-projecting wedge-shaped piece 12b on rack l2, and form 15 may have a socket 15b to receive an upwardly-projecting pin 12c on rack 12.

In the practice of the invention, the forms are dipped into the tank one or more times as illustrated in Figure 1 and withdrawn at a comparatively slow rat'e to deposit the inner layers of the article on the form. For a given article such as a bathing cap, this may be at the rate of ten inches per minute, with dryings intermediate each dipping. The outer layers of the articles are then deposited on the forms by one or more clippings with intermediate dryings by withdrawing the forms from the tank at a comparatively fast rate, in theV case of the bathing cap, for example, at a rate of sixty to seventy inches per minute. However, the invention is not limited to the above-mentioned speeds of withdrawal.

When the usual bead-rolling operation is toV be performed, the dipping of the outer layers may be accomplished by withdrawals at such high rates of speed without changing the rate of 'withdrawal adjacent .the bottom of the forms and the forms need not necessarily be dipped in the positions shown nor need they be provided with abrupt lower edges, the beads being rolled thereon in any known manner.

When, however, it is desired to avoid the beadrolling operation and to produce reinforced edges by the dipping operation, `the forms will be in the positions shown and provided with abrupt lower bead-defining or reinforcement-defining edges. In such cases, the withdrawal of the forms is preferably stopped for an interval of time, say twenty to thirty-seconds, a short distance, for example,r a quarter to a half inch, from the bottom of the form and the withdrawal then proceeds slowly, for example, at the rate of tenA inches per minute, until the form is completely wfitldrawn.

It may not be necessary to completely stop the withdrawal of the'forms when their abrupt lower edges are within a short distance of the level of the latex but the speed thereof should be retarded until completely withdrawn to such a rate as will allow the latex flowing down the form to pass out into the latex body so thatl when the lower end of the form passes out of the latex there is no considerable flow of latex down the form causing the heavy portion of the deposited latex to become too large and uneven due to the weight thereof overcoming the surface tension of the lm adhering to the form.

Satisfactory` goods with such beaded or rein- A"the appended claims.

forced ends formed by dipping as described in the preceding paragraphs may be made using only the fast withdrawal process or only the slow withdrawal process for all dippings provided that in thecase of the fast-withdrawal the withdrawal speed is controlled just before the bottoms of the forms pass out of the latex in the manner previously described. The better goods, more uniform and blister-free are produced, however, by using the slow withdrawal process at least for the rst dipping.

After the goods have been dipped the required number of times and dried, /the forms may be removed from the rack l2, or they may rst be vulcanized and then removed. Where goods are provided with beaded edges by dipping using the abrupt-ended forms, the latex film will be coated on the form, its support and the rack as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. Upon lifting the forms from their supports, the film of rubber at thel abrupt or sharp edges of the forms will part due to the tenacity with which the rubber film adheres about the form supports and rack, leaving on the form the desired article with the desired beaded or reinforced edge, the rubber having collected above said edge to form said bead as indicated in Figures 2 to 5 at v16, 16.

It will be understood by skilled artisans that the rubber may be vulcanized in any suitable way either before or after depositing the same on a form to produce the article.

Modifications of the invention other than those disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of What is claimed is:-

1. That method for making dipped rubber articles of liquid latex which comprises dipping a form one or more times into a ybody of latex, withdrawing the form each time at a relatively slow rate such that the latex substantially sets on the form as the form is withdrawn to deposit a comparatively thin inner layer or layers of rubber on the form, and drying the film of rubber so deposited on the form after each dipping, then dipping the form one or more times in the latex, and withdrawing the form at a relatively fast rate to deposit a comparatively thick film or films of rubber on the form and drying the rubber on the form after each such dipping operation.

2. That method for making dipped rubber articles of liquid latex with reinforced or beaded edges comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower edge where the reinforced edge of Athe article is to be formed, removably supporting said form on a rack, .dipping said rack and form into a body of latex one or more times and withdrawing the rack and form from the latex each time at a relatively slow rate to deposit a thin inner film or lms on the form, drying after each such dipping operation, then dipping the rack and formone or more times and withdrawing the same each time at a relatively fast rate to deposit a comparatively thick lm or films on i the form, the withdrawal of the form just prior to passage of the lower end of Ythe form from the latex being stopped for an interval of time or retarded and the withdrawal thereafter proceeding relatively more slowly to form a reinforced or beaded edge at the abrupt edge of the form, and

'drying after each such relatively fast dip.

edges comprising providing a form with an m abrupt lower edge'where the reinforced edge of the article is to be formed, removably supporting said form on a rack, dipping said rack and form into a body of latex one or more times interval of time or retarded and the withdrawal thereafter proceeding relatively more slowly, drying each said thick lm on the form after each such dipping, and removing the form 'from its support whereby the nlm of rubber parts at the abrupt edge of the :form leaving the article with the reinforced edge on the form.

i. That method for making dipped rubber articles of liquid latex with reinforced or beaded edges comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower edge where the reinforced edge or the article is to be formed, removably supporting said form on a rack, dipping said rack Cif and form into a body of latex one or more times and withdrawing the rack and form from the latex each time at a relatively slow rate whereby the latex deposited on the form substantially sets to deposit a thin film or lms on the form, and removing the form from its support whereby the film of rubber parts at the lower edge of the form leaving the article with the reinforced edge on the form.

5. ri'hat method for making dipped rubber articles of liquid latex with reinforced or beaded edges comprising providing a form with an abrupt' lower edge where the reinforced edge of the article is to be formed, removably supporting said form on a rack, dipping said rack and form into a body oi latex one or more times and withdrawing therack and form from the latex each time, and removing the form from its support whereby the lm of rubber parts at the abrupt edge ci the form leaving the article with the reinforced edge on the form.

e. That method for making dipped rubber articles of liquid latex withreinforced or beaded edges comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower edge where the reinforced edge of the article is to be formed, removably supporting said :form` on a rack having a projection engaged in an aperture or socket in the bottom of the form, dipping vsaid rack and form into a body of latex one or more times and withdrawing the rack and form from the latex each time,

' and removing the form from its support whereby the film of rubber parts at the lower edge of the form leaving the article with the reinforced edge on the form.

7. Apparatus for making dipped rubber articles of liquid latex comprising a rack, a form having'an abrupt lower edge, said form' having one or more apertures or sockets in the bottom thereof and said rack having one or more upwardly directed projections engaging in said socket or sockets removably to support the form on the rack, and a tank for liquid latex int( which said rack is movable to dip said form into said latex.

8. .an apparatus for making dipped rubber articlesfrom liquid latex comprising a rack, a form having an abrupt lower edge, said form removably mounted upon said rack to support the form, and a tank of liquid latex into which said rack is movable to dip said form into said latex.

9. IThat method for making dipped rubber articles comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower edge for defining an opening in the article. dipping the form one or more times in a body of liquid latex or the like, removing the form from the latex at each dipping at a relatively fast rate until said lower edge closely approaches the sur-n face of the latex, and then decelerating the speed of the form just before withdrawal of said lower edge.

l0. That method for making dipped rubber articles comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower edge for defining an opening in the article, dipping the form one or more times in a body of liquid latex or the like, removing the form from the latex at each. dipping at a relatively fast rate until said lower edge closely .approaches the surface of the latex, then stopping the form just before withdrawal of said lower edge, and nnally removing the form from the latex ata relatively slow rate of speed.

. ll. That method for making dipped. rubber articles comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower edge for denningan opening in the amicle, dipping the form one or more times in a body of liquid latex'or the like, withdrawing the form from the latex at each dipping until said lower edge closely approaches the surface of the latex, then stopping the form just before withdrawal of said lower edge, and nnally removing the form from the latex.

d2. That method for making dipped rubber articles comprising providing a form with an. abrupt lower edge for defining an opening in the article, dipping the form one or more times in a body of liquid latex or the like, removing the form from the latex at eachdipping until said lower edge closely approaches the surface oi the latex and decelerating the speed of the form just before withdrawal of said lower edge.

13. vThat method for making dipped rubber articles comprising providing a form with an abrupt lower, edge for dening an opening in the article, dipping the form one or more times in a body of liquid latex or the like, removing the form from the latexl at each. dipping untih said lower edge closely approaches the surface of 'the latex, then stopping the form just before withdrawal of said lower edge, and finally removing the form from the latex at a relatively slow rate of speed. ABRAHAM N. SPANEL. ROGER D. WESTON. WALTER BITNER. 

